The infestation devouring tonnes of crops in the region could create a food crisis, the UN says.
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Friday, February 14, 2020
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Low-cost “smart” diaper can notify caregiver when it’s wet
For some infants, a wet diaper is cause for an instant, vociferous demand to be changed, while other babies may be unfazed and happy to haul around the damp cargo for lengthy periods without complaint. But if worn too long, a wet diaper can cause painful rashes, and miserable babies — and parents.
Now MIT researchers have developed a “smart” diaper embedded with a moisture sensor that can alert a caregiver when a diaper is wet. When the sensor detects dampness in the diaper, it sends a signal to a nearby receiver, which in turn can send a notification to a smartphone or computer.
The sensor consists of a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, that is placed below a layer of super absorbent polymer, a type of hydrogel that is typically used in diapers to soak up moisture. When the hydrogel is wet, the material expands and becomes slightly conductive — enough to trigger the RFID tag to send a radio signal to an RFID reader up to 1 meter away.
The researchers say the design is the first demonstration of hydrogel as a functional antenna element for moisture sensing in diapers using RFID. They estimate that the sensor costs less than 2 cents to manufacture, making it a low-cost, disposable alternative to other smart diaper technology.
Over time, smart diapers may help record and identify certain health problems, such as signs of constipation or incontinence. The new sensor may be especially useful for nurses working in neonatal units and caring for multiple babies at a time.
Pankhuri Sen, a research assistant in MIT’s AutoID Laboratory, envisions that the sensor could also be integrated into adult diapers, for patients who might be unaware or too embarrassed to report themselves that a change is needed.
“Diapers are used not just for babies, but for aging populations, or patients who are bedridden and unable to take care of themselves,” Sen says. “It would be convenient in these cases for a caregiver to be notified that a patient, particularly in a multibed hospital, needs changing.”
“This could prevent rashes and some infections like urinary tract infections, in both aging and infant populations,” adds collaborator Sai Nithin R. Kantareddy, a graduate student in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Sen, Kantareddy, and their colleagues at MIT, including Rahul Bhattacharryya and Sanjay Sarma, along with Joshua Siegel at Michigan State University, have published their results today in the journal IEEE Sensors. Sarma is MIT’s vice president for open learning and the Fred Fort Flowers and Daniel Fort Flowers Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
Sticker sense
Many off-the-shelf diapers incorporate wetness indicators in the form of strips, printed along the outside of a diaper, that change color when wet — a design that usually requires removing multiple layers of clothing to be able to see the actual diaper.
Companies looking into smart diaper technology are considering wetness sensors that are wireless or Bluetooth-enabled, with devices that attach to a diaper’s exterior, along with bulky batteries to power long-range connections to the internet. These sensors are designed to be reusable, requiring a caregiver to remove and clean the sensor before attaching it to each new diaper. Current sensors being explored for smart diapers, Sen estimates, retail for over $40.
RFID tags in contrast are low-cost and disposable, and can be printed in rolls of individual stickers, similar to barcode tags. MIT’s AutoID Laboratory, founded by Sarma, has been at the forefront of RFID tag development, with the goal of using them to connect our physical world with the internet.
A typical RFID tag has two elements: an antenna for backscattering radio frequency signals, and an RFID chip that stores the tag’s information, such as the specific product that the tag is affixed to. RFID tags don’t require batteries; they receive energy in the form of radio waves emitted by an RFID reader. When an RFID tag picks up this energy, its antenna activates the RFID chip, which tweaks the radio waves and sends a signal back to the reader, with its information encoded within the waves. This is how, for instance, products labeled with RFID tags can be identified and tracked.
Sarma’s group has been enabling RFID tags to work not just as wireless trackers, but also as sensors. Most recently, as part of MIT’s Industrial Liason Program, the team started up a collaboration with Softys, a diaper manufacturer based in South America, to see how RFID tags could be configured as low-cost, disposable wetness detectors in diapers. The researchers visited one of the company’s factories to get a sense of the machinery and assembly involved in diaper manufacturing, then came back to MIT to design a RFID sensor that might reasonably be integrated within the diaper manufacturing process.
Tag, you’re it
The design they came up with can be incorporated in the bottom layer of a typical diaper. The sensor itself resembles a bow tie, the middle of which consists of a typical RFID chip connecting the bow tie’s two triangles, each made from the hydrogel super absorbent polymer, or SAP.
Normally, SAP is an insulating material, meaning that it doesn’t conduct current. But when the hydrogel becomes wet, the researchers found that the material properties change and the hydrogel becomes conductive. The conductivity is very weak, but it’s enough to react to any radio signals in the environment, such as those emitted by an RFID reader. This interaction generates a small current that turns on the sensor’s chip, which then acts as a typical RFID tag, tweaking and sending the radio signal back to the reader with information — in this case, that the diaper is wet.
The researchers found that by adding a small amount of copper to the sensor, they could boost the sensor’s conductivity and therefore the range at which the tag can communicate to a reader, reaching more than 1 meter away.
To test the sensor’s performance, they placed a tag within the bottom layers of newborn-sized diapers and wrapped each diaper around a life-sized baby doll, which they filled with saltwater whose conductive properties were similar to human bodily fluids. They placed the dolls at various distances from an RFID reader, at various orientations, such as lying flat versus sitting upright. They found that the particular sensor they designed to fit into newborn-sized diapers was able to activate and communicate to a reader up to 1 meter away when the diaper was fully wet.
Sen envisions that an RFID reader connected to the internet could be placed in a baby’s room to detect wet diapers, at which point it could send a notification to a caregiver’s phone or computer that a change is needed. For geriatric patients who might also benefit from smart diapers, she says small RFID readers may even be attached to assistive devices, such as canes and wheelchairs to pick up a tag’s signals.
This research was supported in part by Softys under the MIT Industry Liason Program.
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Black History Month Facts of the Day: Feb 13th
On every single day of Black History Month this February, we will provide you with a daily fact that occurred on the same day in a past year in history.
Today’s Black History Month facts focus on the SCLC and the first black professional basketball team.
– On this day in 1818, Absalom Jones, the first African American Episcopal priest ordained in the U.S. , dies.
– On this day in 1982, the first African American performers, the World’s Fair Colored Opera Company, appear at Carnegie Hall.
– On this day in 1923, the first black professional team, “The Renaissance,” organized.
– On this day in 1957, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was founded in New Orleans.
– On this day in 1970, the New York Stock Exchange admitted its first member, Joseph Searles.
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Aetna Coventry Medicare Plans 2020
Coventry Medicare Plans Are Now Sold By Aetna
Beginning in 2020, Aetna will be selling Coventry Medicare plans. While Aetna began integrating Coventry since acquiring it in 2013, this is the first major change announced for 2020.
2020 Aetna Coventry Medicare Plans – The Basics:
With over 39 million people insured, Aetna is one of the top healthcare insurance companies in the country. In addition to receiving an A+ rating from Better Business Bureau (BBB), the company ranked fourth for overall satisfaction in the J.D. Power Medicare Advantage Study (2019).
So, what can you expect if you decide to choose an Aetna Coventry Medicare plan in 2020?
Aetna offers three types of Medicare plans:
- Medicare Advantage plans
- Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D)
- Medicare Supplement insurance plans (Medigap)
Medicare Advantage Plans
Also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare Advantage plans offer the same coverage found with Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance), along with extra benefits.
Aetna offers a range of standard Medicare Advantage plans which are classified as:
- HMO plans – Aetna’s Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is quite standard as it provides you with a network of doctors and hospitals you can visit. You will, however, need a referral from a primary care physician for specialist visits as well as hospital care. Moreover, the company offers limited out-of-network benefits with this plan.
- HMO-POS plans – Point-of-service (POS) plans go beyond traditional HMO offerings to allow you to select healthcare providers outside of network. Keep in mind that you’ll need to pay more by not opting for an in-network physician.
- PPO plans – If you wish for the flexibility to choose any healthcare service provider who accepts Medicare, you should consider preferred provider organization (PPO) plans. With this plan, you won’t need a referral from your primary care physician before visiting a specialist or hospital. You can, however, save by choosing a provider in your plan’s network.
Here’s a quick comparison of all three plans based on their offerings:
| HMO Plans | HMO – POS Plans | PPO Plans | |
| Using a network provider is required |
Yes (unless it’s an emergency) |
No
|
No
|
| Having a primary care physician is required | Yes, in most plans | Yes, in some plans | No |
| Getting a referral before seeing a specialist is required | Yes, in most plans | Yes, in some plans | No |
| Monthly premiums | $0 – $178 | $0 – $33 | $0 – $214 |
| Medical deductible | $0 – $1,180 | $0 – $500 | $0 – $1,800 |
| Prescription drug coverage is included | Yes, in most plans | Yes | Yes, in most plans |
| Dental, vision, and hearing coverage | Yes, in most plans | Yes, in most plans | Yes, in most plans |
| ER and urgent care worldwide | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Over-the-counter benefit (to get OTC at no charge) | Yes, in most plans | Yes | Yes, in most plans |
| Transportation benefit (e.g. trips to doctor) | Yes, in some plans | Yes, in some plans | Yes, in some plans |
| Meals at home (to deliver meals home after a hospital stay) | Yes, in some plans | Yes, in some plans | Yes, in some plans |
In addition to the benefits and services listed above, you can opt for the following with a Medicare Advantage plan:
- Resources for Living concierge services
- SilverSneakers fitness membership
- 24/7 access to a registered nurse
- Prescription drug home delivery
Aside from standard plans, Aetna Coventry Medicare offers the dual special needs plan (DSNP) with personalized care to individuals with both Medicare and Medicaid plans. This plan can be customized according to your health needs to include dental, vision and hearing coverage, wellness programs like acupuncture therapy, and meals after a hospital stay.
You may qualify for assistance for paying for your prescription drugs if your total income is less than $18,735 (or $25,365 for married couples), and your assets amount to less than $14,390 ($28,720 for couples).
DSNP, however, is limited to 14 states, including Florida, Texas, Kansas, and Virginia. Call your local Aetna Coventry Medicare to check if it’s offered in your state.
Ready to find a Medicare Advantage plan? We recommend speaking with a licensed insurance agent to understand all of the coverage and benefits options available to you.
SilverScript Part D Coverage
As a result of CVS Health acquiring Aetna, SilverScript became part of Aenta’s Medicare portfolio. SilverScript is one of the largest Medicare Part D insurers according to a CMS Monthly Enrollment by Plan report. It serves over 6 million Medicare policy holders, offering them convenience, round-the-clock customer service, and access to pharmacies nationwide.
In 2020, Aetna Coventry Medicare will offer two standalone prescription drug plans (PDPs) from SilverScript:
- SilverScript Choice – This affordable prescription drug plan offers coverage for a wide range of generic and brand-name drugs. It offers $0 copays on Tier 1 drugs at 28,000 preferred pharmacies out of 65,000 pharmacies in total. You can also avail mail delivery and $0 copays on 90-day supplies of Tier 1 drugs.
- SilverScript Plus – This plan is more suitable for individuals who take more medications and/or are concerned with Medicare’s coverage gap. In addition to offering a $0 deductible on all tiers, it offers more drug coverage, immediate access to copay and coinsurance benefits, and up to $435 in savings on deductible costs.
If you’re worried about costs, check to see if you qualify for the Medicare Part D Extra Help to lower your premiums and costs. Also known as low-income subsidy (LIS), this program offered by the Social Security Administration helps individuals with limited incomes. It covers 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of your monthly Part D plan premium.
If you’re already enrolled in a prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan (MA-PD), call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to check if you qualify for the Extra Help program.
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans (Medigap)
Medigap, or Medicare Supplement insurance plans, are also offered through Aetna. Medigap plans complement Original Medicare coverage while helping you pay for costs of healthcare products and services such as:
- 20% of Medicare-approved costs or copayments for outpatient services
- Hospitalization per day coinsurance along with coverage for 365 days after benefits end
- First three pints of blood annually
- Part A coinsurance for hospice services
- Skilled nursing facility care
- Foreign travel emergency
To apply, you need to be 65 or older (in some states, under 65 due to disability or end-stage renal disease), enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, and live in a state which offers this policy.
Already Have a Coventry Medicare Plan?
If you’ve already enrolled in a Medicare plan from Coventry, you may have several questions on how the new changes affect you. You can talk to an Aetna Coventry licensed agent on 1-855-423-5971 (TTY: 711) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week. Alternatively, you can request a call or schedule an in-person visit.
To help you get all the answers you need, here are some of the important questions you should ask:
- Does the latest plan meet your needs better than your current one?
- Will the changes affect your current plan and the services you use?
- Will your drugs be covered?
- Will there be changes to the tier and cost-sharing of the drugs you need?
- How much can you save on out-of-pocket costs for the services and drugs you use?
- If you plan to switch plans, is there a deadline for doing so?
The Bottom Line
With so much to offer, Aetna Coventry Medicare plans may be just the thing to help you get the healthcare coverage you need without worrying about rising costs. Make sure to do your homework and get a quote from a licensed Medicare insurance agent before selecting a plan.
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California school district names elementary school after Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama’s name will grace the building of a second California school.
What began as a proposal from the PTA to the school board and grew to widespread support from parents, students and community officials, the West Contra Costa Unified School District Board in Richmond, California voted unanimously to change the name of Wilson Elementary School to Michelle Obama Elementary School, according to CNN.
READ MORE: Michelle Obama’s high school puts her name on new multimillion-dollar athletic complex
The West Contra Costa school becomes the second school in California to be named after our forever FLOTUS. The first school to be named Michelle Obama Elementary is in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
“We wanted to choose someone on a global level,” Wilson PTA President Maisha Cole told CNN. “With a new school and new learning environment, we want our children to think beyond Richmond, to think beyond California, and remind them that they can make a difference locally and globally.”
The school will also be rebuilt for the 2020-2021 school year.
“We have the opportunity to have a beautiful new school named after a person who really represents our diversity and values,” Principal Claudia Velez added to CNN. “Our school is diverse, modern and innovative, and the things that the kids will be doing will prepare them for a very strong and successful future in whatever career they choose.”
This has so far been a banner year for Michelle Obama.
In January, she won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for her audio recording of her bestselling memoir, Becoming. Since it was released in 2018, Becoming has sold more than 12 million units worldwide and has been published in 46 languages. The audiobook has also been on the New York Times Audio Nonfiction Best Seller List for 14 straight months since its publication, including 7 months in the #1 slot.
And she along with her husband, our forever President Barack Obama, can also add Oscar winner to their long list of accomplishments.
READ MORE: Barack and Michelle Obama’s first Netflix film wins Oscar for Best Documentary
Last Sunday, American Factory took home the Academy Award in the category of “Best Documentary Feature” on Sunday night, besting The Edge of Democracy and For Sama. In American Factory, filmmakers Steven Bognar, Julia Eichert and Jeff Eichert followed the story of an Ohio factory that was reopened by a Chinese billionaire inside of an abandoned General Motors plant.
The Obamas’ production company, Higher Ground, produced the documentary.
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Black Portland man awarded settlement in racial discrimination lawsuit
A Black man from Portland recently won a racial discrimination settlement against the city of West Linn after he was unlawfully surveilled at work by police and arrested as a favor to his former boss.
Michael Fesser, 48, was recently awarded $600,000 by the City of West Linn— one of the largest racial discrimination lawsuits ever paid out by the state of Oregon.
READ MORE: Detroit man who won a racial discrimination settlement, now suing bank for not cashing the check
In 2018, Fesser also settled a lawsuit against his former employer, A&B Towing of Southeast Portland, for $415,000. Fesser had filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Portland against the city and West Linn Police Department for false arrest, malicious prosecution, defamation, and invasion of privacy, saying a 2017 incident caused him emotional distress and economic hardship, according to The Oregonian.
Three years ago, Fesser was working for A&B Towing when he raised concerns about racial harassment to his boss, Eric Benson, who owned the company at the time. Fesser reported that his co-workers called him racist slurs and asked his opinion on a Confederate flag draped from a pickup truck in the company lot.
Instead of investigating those claims, Benson instead contacted former West Linn Police Chief Terry Timeus, his fishing buddy, to see what could be done. West Linn is a suburb of Portland.
Then, Benson made an unsubstantiated claim to Timeus that Fesser was stealing money from car auctions. Fesser managed the company’s car auctions at the time, and received and handled payments from bidders. Benson told Timeus that his company was short money from the auctions but Portland police had not responded to his request for an investigation, The Oregonian reports.
Timeus instructed officers to secretly videotape Fesser at work, which they pulled off without a court order or warrant, with the help of one of Benson’s associates who used an audio app called “Swann View.” Benson watched the surveillance feed and relayed information back to West Linn Detective Tony Reeves, according to The Oregonian.
Ultimately, Reeves had Fesser arrested without cause, although Reeves later admitted the video recording showed no crime was committed.
“My game my rules,” Reeves wrote to Benson, according to The Oregonian.
READ MORE: Portland woman kicked out of restaurant for making whites uncomfortable files lawsuit
Paul Buchanan, Fesser’s lawyer, said the case proves that good ole’ boy racism is still around.
“This case vividly illustrates a ready willingness on the part of the West Linn police to abuse the enormous power they have been given, and a casual, jocular, old-boy-style racism of the kind that we Oregonians tend to want to associate with the Deep South rather than our own institutions,” Buchanan told The Oregonian.
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Maryland legislators unveil bronze statues of Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass
In the same room where slavery was abolished in Maryland in 1864, life-sized bronze statues of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass were unveiled by state legislators.
During a ceremony on Monday night in the Old House Chamber, a special joint session of the Maryland General Assembly dedicated the statues.
READ MORE: Harriet Tubman Museum set to open in 2020 in New Jersey
“A mark of true greatness is shining light on a system of oppression and having the courage to change it,” House Speaker Adrienne Jones, Maryland’s first Black female House speaker, said in prepared remarks, according to ABC News. “The statues are a reminder that our laws aren’t always right or just. But there’s always room for improvement.”
Tubman and Douglass were both born on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The statues show Tubman and Douglass in the same dress and age that they would have been in 1864, ABC News reported.
Just as statues of the abolitionists were celebrated in the statement, in recent years Maryland has removed the statue of Roger B. Taney, the U.S. Supreme Court justice from Maryland who wrote the 1857 Dred Scott decision upholding slavery and denying the right of Black Americans to be citizens. That ruling established the “separate but equal” doctrine that stood for decades before the Brown v. Board of Education decision upended it in 1954.
Maryland officials voted to remove Taney’s statue a few days after Heather Heyer, 32, was killed in Charlottesville, Virginia following a protest by white nationalists upset that a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was being removed. Heyer was supporting the removal of Lee’s statue when a man rammed his car through a crowd of people, plowing her down.
READ MORE: OPINION: It’s time for Mayor Pete Buttigieg to resign and shut down his 2020 presidential campaign
And last month, the Maryland Senate removed a portrait of a white governor who had been on the wall for 115 years and replaced it with a painting of Verda Freeman Welcome, who was elected to the Maryland State Senate in 1962 becoming America’s first Black female state senator. Welcome’s portrait is the first of a Black person to be put up on the walls of the Maryland Senate.
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Sommelier Titus Green is Breaking Barriers in the Wine Industry
Sommeliers possess unique knowledge and experience that allows them to pair food and wine with unmatched skill. While all must undergo rigorous preparation, few become credentialed by the renowned Court of Master Sommeliers, which sets the gold standard of excellence for beverage service within the hospitality industry with integrity, exemplary knowledge, and humility. Even fewer are black. Titus Green is one such extraordinary sommelier.
BLACK ENTERPRISE caught up with Green to explore what it means to be a sommelier and highlight his unique experiences in the food and wine industry.
Titus Green, Sommelier at Washington DC’s Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
Black Enterprise: Can you explain what a sommelier is and how you became one?
Green: An academic definition of a sommelier is someone who is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional (normally working in fine restaurants) and who specializes in all aspects of wine service, as well as wine and food pairing. In fine dining, the role is far more specialized—it’s not the same as a “wine waiter.”
I became a sommelier because I’ve long had a passion for exploring this ancient beverage and truly enjoy helping others to do the same. I fell in love the hard way—a trial by fire. Four years ago, I took a professional opportunity with Del Frisco’s Double Eagle steakhouse in Washington D.C. When I examined the wine list, I noticed it was two inches thick, 40 pages long, and approximately 2,000 bottles in variety! Intimidation set in almost immediately. So, instead of capitulating to fear, I decided to strengthen my knowledge and understanding of wine.
I began by researching the countless authors, articles, websites, and social media sites where I could absorb engaging content. I took my self-study seriously and applied myself. Eventually, I sat for The Court of Master of Sommeliers exam and passed it. But my enthusiasm for studying did not end with my pinning ceremony. I am a true believer in lifelong learning. Reading daily and applying the skillset makes learning fun and captivating for me. Along with that, just talking to friends and mentors about wine supports the learning process. I’ve also found that one of the most vital components of learning is finding opportunities to taste wine and develop my own playbook. This helps me to expand my understanding of terroir, tasting structure, and pairings as a matter of course.
Titus Green with Master Sommelier Fred Dame and Del Frisco’s Double Eagle DC wine staff
What were some of your biggest professional challenges and how did you overcome them?
Some of my biggest professional challenges included finding ways to digest, dissect, and store wine-related information, along with allocating time to do all of the above. One of the ways I overcame these challenges was learning to ‘study’ the information in multiple ways: writing, drawing, singing, listening, reading, referencing pictures, maps, etc. Additionally, I found the best way to work with time constraints was to just keep absorbing knowledge on a daily basis and then set daily and weekly goals. I also found that working like I had a final exam each week was a solid technique that helped me make excellent use of my time.
We’re assuming you have access to a great deal of wine. About how much time do you spend tasting during the week?
It takes me about 2 minutes to fully feel like I have tasted or grasped a wine. That said, I usually end up ‘tasting’ and enjoying a few 6-ounce glasses during a focused wine study session. I love wine, so I will taste anytime I get the chance, which amounts, on average, to approximately 2-3 hours per week. Sometimes it’s in a classroom format, other times it’s more or less “on the fly” in more casual settings for only a few minutes. I specifically take time out each week to taste and blind taste wines with colleagues, which gives me access to 40+ wines per week.
Titus Green executing private cognac tasting for VIP clients
Have you ever felt different or been treated differently as a black man in this industry?
There have been plenty of times where I did not feel differently, where I’ve felt completely comfortable in my own skin as an accomplished expert in the room. There have also been other times where I have certainly felt awkward and uncomfortable—like I was an anomaly. What I have learned over time is to approach cynics (and the internal critic) this way: Once I get suited-up, nothing else matters. I leave my pride (and doubt!) at the door and let the knowledge, skill, and experience do all the talking.
What’s your best advice to someone interested in becoming a sommelier or entering the food and wine industry in a professional capacity?
I’m in love with what I do. If you have a passion for something you love, don’t waste time thinking about it. Do your research and pursue it. If wine and food are what drive you, find places and people who can inspire you and push you to new heights. Opportunities in wine are virtually endless and with so many facets and ways to explore it, there is a place for almost every conceivable hospitality professional. D.C. is growing as a foodie city and making leaps and bounds toward becoming a wine capital, so if you’re in the area, you’re going to be inundated with opportunities. Also, remember that there are vast resources available, inclusive of literature, courses, and websites that you can leverage to get a head start on your wine lover’s journey—today. Take advantage of them. Most people don’t. Cheers!
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Lynn Whitfield endorses Joe Biden for president because public service is his ‘North star’
I grew up in Baton Rouge at a time that feels very different from the world we know today. In my family, public service was woven into everything we did. We’d sit around the kitchen table and talk about politics at just about every meal. I grew up around people who were aware that you’re supposed to serve. It was a part of my training.
And even as I was developing a love of entertainment, watching legends like Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier light up the stage and screen, I was inspired by their activism as much as their acting.
READ MORE: Symone Sanders viewed as Millennial force for candidates
It helped that my mother was a volunteer driver for the Baton Rouge bus boycott that preceded Montgomery and was an active member of the NAACP, like my aunt, whose name appeared on the longest-running school desegregation suit in the country. And my grandfather was a country doctor whose commitment to serving the community was so great that when patients couldn’t afford his services, he would take produce for payment and do all that he could for free. Because we are all in it together.
In the era of Donald Trump, that kind of thinking can sometimes feel like ancient history. But there’s one candidate in this race who understands the fabric that used to hold American communities like mine together — and can unite our country once again.
For me, that candidate is Vice President Joe Biden, because public service has been the constant in his life too.
READ MORE: (WATCH) Congress Members Respond to President Donald Trump’s Tweets
Since he first entered the Senate at 29 years-old, through tragedy after tragedy, Joe has never lost sight of his North Star: serving the country he loves.
There’s no moment that better captures his spirit of service than the day he stood at Barack Obama’s side as the Affordable Care Act was signed into law—a victory for Americans that was more than a century in the making.
Because of the ACA, more than 100 million Americans no longer have to worry that their insurance company will deny coverage or charge higher premiums just because they have a pre-existing condition—like cancer, diabetes, heart disease or depression. There are no more annual or lifetime limits on coverage, and young people can now stay on their parents’ plans until they’re 26 years old.
However, ever since that historic day, the Republican Party has done everything in its power to undermine these protections. President Trump is running on eliminating them altogether.
READ MORE: Trump courts Black voters, but opposition remains deep
That’s why Democrats need to nominate someone who can not only defeat President Trump but build on the Affordable Care Act when he does. Joe has the best plan to do just that. Rather than starting from scratch and getting rid of private insurance, as some Democrats are proposing, Joe would build on the ACA by providing Americans with more choices, reducing health care costs, and making our health care system much more simple to use.
At a time when African-American women are still three times more likely to die in childbirth in the wealthiest country on the planet, we cannot afford to wait to make sure our health care system is not only more effective but more just.
I know this issue is personal to Joe. He has experienced devastating losses in his life, and since he left the White House, he has continued his work to end cancer as we know it. Like his son Beau, my father and aunt succumbed to this dreadful disease, while my mother and another aunt are, thankfully, cancer survivors. More than his spearheading research, he understands that too many Americans lie awake at night, wondering how they will continue to make ends meet if one of their loved ones becomes ill. And just like my grandfather, Joe is committed to making sure no one goes bankrupt because they get sick.
All of our progress on health care, and all the other issues we care about, depend on one thing above all else: our ability to cast our vote. And the long struggle for civil rights and voting rights is what first inspired Joe Biden to run for office. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was an important first step in our nation finally living up to the promise of its founding, but that was only the beginning of the fight. As Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Joe successfully led the fight to extend its protections for 25 years in 1982.
This fight is what inspired my family to get involved in game-changing civil rights efforts in our community when I was younger because we could all see Jim Crow was still alive and well in Louisiana. Unfortunately, as we know all too well across the country—and especially in the South—not enough has changed since then. Our hard-won rights have been under constant assault from the Supreme Court on down to state and local election officials.
As president, Joe Biden will stand up to these attacks, and restore the Voting Rights Act, because he understands that every American, no matter what they look like or what zip code they live in, deserves a voice in our democracy. He will make it easier to exercise our sacred right to vote, count every vote equally, and make sure those votes cannot be undermined by anyone aiming to meddle in our political process—whether foreign or domestic.
The right to vote is the right upon which all others depend, but it can only be preserved for as long as we are willing to fight to keep it. So in the face of Donald Trump, and a political system that all too often feels like it’s spiraling out of control, we must hold fast to hope. To that end, there’s a poem that was greatly loved and embodied by my hero, Ruby Dee. In the coming election, I’ll be keeping it in mind:
The world is wrong, let’s right it. The battle is hard, let’s fight it. The road is rough, let’s clear it. The future vast, don’t fear it. Is faith asleep? Let’s wake it. Because today is ours, let’s take it.
I believe that the moment Joe Biden enters the White House, today can be ours once more.
It’s just on us to take it.
The post Lynn Whitfield endorses Joe Biden for president because public service is his ‘North star’ appeared first on TheGrio.
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